Telephone-instrument attachment



May 3, 1927. 1,627,413

A. SCHLESINGER TELEPHONE INSTRUMENT ATTACHMENT Filed Sept. 20, 1924 C75? 4 TTOENE f I Patented May 3, 1927.

ALEX. SCHLESIN GER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

TELEPHONE-INSTRUMENT ATTACHMENT.-

Application filed Septcmber 20, 1924. Serial No. 738,885.

The present invention relates 130.111'1P10V6- ments in telephone-instrument attachments, and more particularly to attachments applicable to instruments provided with calling devices for automatictelephone systems.

In one type of these calling devices, a dial is provided which is rotatable on a circular base, the dial having finger-holes, through which are visible-characters and numerals on said base. In dialing, the operator inserts a finger, in succession, in the selected holes and turns the dial each time until the finger strikes a stop on the base. The dial is spaced from the base a suitable distance. In use, dust settles on the base through the finger-holes and also by entering the space between the base and the-dial. This is objectionable because the fingers of the user be come soiled in dialing, and also because the characters and numerals on the base are rendered partly invisible.

The main object of the present invention is to provide a cleaning attachment for telephone-instruments of the character men-' tioned, which is entirely automatic in its operation, brushing off dust from the base of the calling device. A

Another ob 'ect of the invention is to so construct an attachment of the type men.- tioned which is capable of manufacture ona commercial scale or. in other words, one

which is not so difficult to make: as to be beyond the reasonable cost of such a contrivance.

A. further object of the invention is to produce an attachment of this type which is simple in construction, efiicient in operation, durable in useand which may be, readily mounted upon the calling device.

A still further object of the invention is to so desi nthe attachment that it may be convenient y mounted on calling devices alread in use. a

' ith these and other objects in view, which will more.full appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the

' same consists in the combination, arrangement and construction of the parts hereinafter described, pointed out in the appended claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, it being understood that many changes may be made in the size and proportion of the several parts and details of construction within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit and scope or sacrificing any of the advan-' tages of the invention.

One of the many possible embodiments of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1'is a front elevation of a portion of a telephone instrument providedwith the improved attachment; Fig. 2 is atop elevation of the calling device and the attachment, on a larger scale; and Fig. 3 is a section taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

In the drawings, the numeral 10 indicates a portion of a telephone-instrument of the desk. type. This instrument includes a base 11, on which is mounted a calling device 12, by means of which signaling impulses are transmitted to a selector or switch at the central ofiice. This calling device includes a circular base 13, fixed in any suitable mannor to thebase 11 and having rotatably mounted thereon a dial 14, having fingerholes 15. This dial is spaced from the base 13, on the latter being provided characters 16 and numerals 17, used in dialing. The characters and numerals are visible through the finger-holes when the dial is in its normal operative position. I

The attachment comprises a plate member 18, secured to the underface of the dial by any suitable means. -In the case illustrated, the securing means is in the form of a small screw 19, which extends through the dial into the plate member 18, the head 20 of the screw being, preferabl counterthe finger stop 22 onthe base 13, and more particularly between the said stopand the rst finger-hole in the series in the said dial.

It-is obvious that the felt-pad should bear only lightly against the base 13,.so as not to interfere with the proper operation of the dial. 1 1

In. use, the cleaning attachment removes the dust from the base 13 when the operator 'actuates the dial, the felt or other 0 surface wiping the said base during the eaning manual movement of the dial and also during its automatic return movement. In case the felt wears in use, the plate member may be adjusted in relation tothe dial to bring means maybe. used for this purpose.

It is obvious that, while herein the cleaning device has been described in connection with a desk telephone instrument, it is applicable toothers just as well, the invention residing mainly in the provision of a cleaning pad or other means on the underface of the dial of a calling device in wiping contact with the base on which said dial rotates.

What I claim is:

1. An automatic telephone calling device comprising a base, a dial rotatably mounted thereon, said dial being spaced from said base and provided with finger-holes, a brushing surface attached to the underfaoe of said dial between two adjoinin finger-holes therein in wiping contact with the juxtaposed face of said base.

2. An automatic telephone calling device comprising a base, a dial rotatably mounted thereon, said dial being spaced from said base, and a brushing surface attached to the underface of said dial in wiping contact with the juxtaposed face of said base.

3. In an automatic telephone calling device, a base, a finger-hole dial rotatably mounted thereon and spaced therefrom, a brushing surface attached to the underface of said rotatable dial and rotatable there with, said brushing surface being in Wipin' contact with the juxtaposed face of said base, whereby said base is cleaned with the rotation of said dial.

4. In a calling device having a number plate, a finger wheel movable concentrically thereto, and means associated with the latter for forming a wiping contact with the number plate.

Signed at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, this 22nd day of August, A. D. 1924.

ALE-X. SCHILESINGER. 

